Chapter 1

I look at myself in the mirror, I look good in my new uniform. I feel great and I am actually excited about the first day of school. I am in grade ten now, the last year of high school. And because of that, I promise myself that this year should be memorable and I would spend most of my days creating happy memories, unlike in the past I will not think of another opinion anymore. I honestly feel that I am more confident now because I am working hard for myself. I read a lot of self-help books and it’s effective because I am feeling good about myself. I took my bag off my bed and look at myself again for the last time in the mirror and I smile. Okay, I should avoid that guy for whole years no matter what so that my days will be peaceful and easy. I walk down to stairs and I saw my mom was about to call me to eat breakfast when she saw me.

“Good morning mom!” I shouted at her, she smiled at me.

“Good morning too, baby. faster! You’ll be late, your father has already eaten he’s starting to be pissed because he doesn’t want to wait.” I chuckled, my father is the most impatience person I have ever known. If he says we need to go, we really need to go unless I want to be left. Sometimes I finish my makeup inside of his car that is how impatience he is. We walked together and seat together at the table, mom already prepared my plate. Well, she’s a busy woman but she never neglected us and took care of us despite her busy schedule.

My father opens his car’s door for me, he put his hand on the edge of the ceiling of the car I step out. I smiled and thank him after that I kiss his cheeks and say goodbye.

“Take care dad,” I said.

“You too Mahal, now go. I’ll see you when you’re in.” I nodded my head and entered the school gate, I look at him for the last time and wave my hand. I take a deep breath and waste no time. I walk towards my classroom, After almost a decade here in this school I already knew every part of this university. I already knew what my class number is while walking down the hallway I heard a lot of whispers but I ignore them anyway and just continue to make my own way.

Our class started at eight-thirty am today but the regular schedule is seven-thirty in the morning it’s the first day of school that’s why but even though I still took initiative to enter school early. It’s already eight in the morning, I am thirty minutes early. I don’t believe in Filipino time and I don’t tolerate Filipino time. As expected, the room is empty. No one is around yet, good because I want to choose a good position in the room. I choose the first raw, incase if our teacher will not be based on the surname arrangement then I’ll be in front. It’s good to be in front, I can focus well and I can hear the teacher’s discussion so well. While waiting for others I open my phone and I get my headphone, I wear them and listen to some music. I scroll to my Twitter, phew. It’s been a month since I use my phone. I let my mother keep it for me while on vacation because of my anxiety and for some other reason, I never really had a follower and following since I don’t really have a friend. Most of whom I follow is Hollywood actors, and some celebrity here in the Philippines but there’s nothing to see. After I got bored on Twitter I open my Facebook to watch some cute cats videos when I read the headline of an article, I open the whole article and read it. It was from the last two months, that I deactivated my Facebook and any other social media so I don’t have any news from anyone, and what I read shocks me the most.

“What?”

“The son of Senator De villa got in a car accident and ends up in a coma.”  I read, I blink for few times and can’t process the whole article. After I read one, I saw another one and that was about him waking up after one month of being in a coma. I Accidentally let my phone crash on the ground when suddenly someone grab my headphone from my back, I turn immediately and saw Ragnar standing looking at me.

“I’m sorry, I tried calling you for hundred times but you didn’t hear me. So-”

“So you take my headphone and startled me?!” I cut him off irritably, I pick my phone from the ground and it was broken. The tempered glass is broken.

“Yes, I’m sorry about that.” He said, I creased my forehead. Wait, I just read something about him and he’s here. Did he see me reading those articles?

“Yes, I did.” I gasped but then cover my mouth, I heard him laugh. Is he a witch? How did he read my mind?

“I’m not, it’s just your easy to read.” He said, I make a face. Wait, why is he talking to me? Is he on drugs or something? He’s Ray, right? He had never talked to me before! What the hell?

“Is there something wrong? Your face was like shrek seems so disgust about me” He ask, I stood up from where I sat and then take a step back.

“Stay away from me, seems like you were possessed or something,” I said, wait what?

“Did you just say my face was like shrek?” I ask him, and his eyes widen.

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Shhhhh”

“But­”

“Shhhhh you know what? I had a great dream this evening and I woke up in good mood please don’t ruin it so shut up and leave me alone.”

“I’m sorry for what I did, I cause some trouble. I should pay you for your broken tempered Glass.” He said, I shook my head.

“No, It’s okay. Just, just don’t ever talk to me again.” I said and took my bag and move to another side, away from him. I promise I will avoid him as long as I can, I had enough suffering from these past few years because of him so I need to distance myself from him or else I’ll die.

Since I met him nine years ago, my life become a living hell. I was being harassed by his admirers, I was body-shamed, bullied, and hurt because of him. He is the reason why I don’t have friends, or I choose not to have girlfriends.

We never really talk before, We just talk if it needs but he never talks to me first, we never had a conversation this long and He never apologizes to me. What happens after the accident? I look at him for the last time, and I caught him looking at me. I blink and avoid our gazes. What’s up with him? Why do I feel something wrong about him? Did he hurt his head so bad and he’s being kind to me? He even apologizes to me. 

It doesn’t take long before other students came into the class, I was expecting no one will talk to me but then I was surprised when a girl take a seat beside me. 

“Hey.” She said smiling, I was confused and pointed at myself.

“Yes, you. Who else?” She smiled, and I smiled back. She had a perfect set of teeth, her hair is black as charcoal and her brown eyes are exquisite. I love their skin the most, she has a gold color of skin tone. She’s beautiful. 

“Can I seat here beside you right?” She asks and nods immediately.

“Of course, you can,” I said 

“That’s good, I’m Angel by the way.” She said and offer her hand for a shaking hand to introduce herself.

“I’m Amina, nice to meet you,” I said as I accepted her hand. I turn around and saw Ray again, this time he is not alone but why does he looking at me. I crease my forehead and avoid our gazes. I open the camera of my phone to see if something is on my face but there’s nothing. Why the hell is he staring at me? I had goosebumps, I feel like he was planning something. Is he planning to kill me? 

I shook my head because of my thoughts, I am overthinking again. 

As expected nothing really happened on the first day of school, I was expecting that Angel will not be going to talk to me anymore but it seems I was wrong. I learned that she is a transferred student and she’s from the province, she’s afraid that no one will talk to her too because she knows it’s being normalized in the city for shaming people from the province calling them their ethnicity as if it’s an insult. I hate it, I really hate it. 

“What club are you going to be in?” Angel asked me because the cafeteria is crowded that is why does she need to repeat her question again as I pardon. 

“I’m going to be in Art Club, how about you?”

“Broadcasting.” She answered and smiled, seems she likes it a lot.

“Wow, that’s nice.”

“You too, how long are you doing art?”

“Just recently I took interest in doing it, but I admire arts since I can’t remember.”

“How about you?”

“I love it seems I was young, I am taking it also as a career path.” I smiled, her eyes is sparkling and I can see that she was really into it. I bit my lower lips. 

“Should we go back to the classroom? It’s so crowded here.” I suggested.